Paper folding machine



Feb. 6, 1934.

s. L. SHARPLESS 1,945,756 fAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J I J. Ldbacr vzess Feb. 6, 1934.

5. L. SHARPLE'SS PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1932 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe um '5. l 5660706655 Filed Aug. 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 jwue'ntoz 6 L Slur bless,

6, 1934- s. 1.. SHARPLESS PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 jnvm Hot J. 1. Jfiarpzess Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Stewart L. Sharpless, Sidney, Ohio Application August 23,

16 "Claims.

The invention relates to that class .of paper folding machines in which the first or parallel folds are of the buckle type .and the following right angle folds are of the knife type, or a combination of knife and buckle folds.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a paper folding machine of this character equipped with a plurality of timed speeds to correspond to certain of the speeds of the multi-speed feeder of the patent to L. Aldrich, No. 1,874,149, dated August 30, 1932 so as to make use of two or more of the speeds of the multi-speed feeder instead of only one as heretofore, on right angle work.

Particularly, the invention has for its object to provide an arrangement and construction whereby two speeds are provided for the knife folding section or sections which speeds are in synchronism or timed relation with the first two speeds of the said multiple speed feeder of the Aldrich patent, without increasing the speed of the parallel or buckle folding section, the delivery tapes, the register or the feeder drive, and whereby the knife folding mechanisms and all of their reciprocating parts are rendered completely inoperative when the machine is used only for parallel or buckle folding work.

The object of providing a second, highen-speed for the right angle or knife folding mechanism is to increase the production where the size of the sheet and the nature of the stock will permit of increased speed.

It is advisable to increase the speed of the knife folding mechanism without increasing the speed of the parallel or buckle folding mechanism and the other of the said sections or mechanisms which are dependent upon the buckle folding mechanism, for the reason that the first parallel or buckle folding mechanism and the register both handle the sheet in its unfolded condition and any great increase in the speed would incur and increase the common difficulty encountered in handling light stock and would also cause inaccurate folding in the parallel or buckle folding mechanism due to the sheet striking the stop with sufficient force to cause the sheet to cr-umple. By this operation thin sheets may be given the first or buckle fold without crumpling and production may be increased by increasing the speed of the subsequent fold or folds after the buckle fold has been made.

The object of rendering the knife folding mechanisms inoperative when the machine is .doing only parallel or buckle folding work, is to save unnecessary wear and tear on the machine, save 1932. Serial No. 630,115

power and eliminate the noise .of the reciprocating parts.

With these and other objects in view, the :invention consists in the construction and novel combination :and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it .being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details :of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing-any of the advantages thereof.

In the -drawings:- I I Figure 1 a perspective view of a portion of a paper folding machine of the said type provided with my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially .on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4 of the draw ings, the :quadrant gear assembly being in its lower position. r

Fig. 3 is a similar view, the quadrant gear assembly being in its raised position. i

Fig. 4 is .a detail plan view of the gearing for connecting the variable speed shaft of the knife folding mechanism with the main drive shaft.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the same. .7

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View, taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a detail elevation of a portion of the opposite side of the folding machine from that shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating the gearing for driving the parallel or buckle folding mechanism.

In the drawings is illustrated a portion of a paper folding machine combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms and as the buckle folding mechanism and the knife folding mechanisms are well'known in the art only the improved mechanism for connecting the said mechanisms to provide a plurality of speeds for the knife folding mechanisms and for rendering the knife folding mechanisms inoperative when only the buckle folding mechanism is used, is illustrated in the drawings.

The novel constructions and arrangements for accomplishing the aforesaid objects and results include a main or primary constant speed drive shaft 1 journaled in suitable bearings in the sides of the frame 2 of the paper foldingmachine and extending entirely across the same and having mounted upon it a motor driven pulley 3 which is designed to be connected by a belt with any suitable motor, as clearly illustrated in Fig. '7 of the drawings. The primary constant speed drive shaft has also mounted on it contiguous to the pulley 3 a small belt pulley 4 for driving a register of the ordinary construction. A gear wheel 5 is mounted on the drive shaft 1 and meshes with a gear 6 of a train of gearing for driving the buckle folding mechanism, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The said arrangement or construction also includes a second or variable speed shaft 7 which is connected with and drives the knife folding mechanism or mechanisms, but the second fold feed tapes 8 are arranged on pulleys 9 which are mounted on the constant speed drive shaft 1, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The said second fold tapes 8 constitute parallel delivery tapes for the buckle folding mechanism when the knife folding mechanism is rendered inoperative by the means hereinafter described. The second fold tapes carry the folded sheet from the parallel or buckle folding mechanism out under the knife for further folding or when parallel or buckle folding work only is being done, out past the knife and into a suitable stacker at the end of the machine. The buckle folding mechanism, the register and the second fold tapes all run at a constant speed, being connected with and driven by the constant speed drive shaft 1. v

On the second or variable speed shaft 7 which extends across the paper folding machine and which is journaled in suitable bearings of the sides of the frame 2 is mounted a double gear composed of gears 10 and 11 and receiving power by the means hereinafter described from the constant speed drive shaft. The said second or variable speed shaft 7 has mounted on it a pinion 12 located at the adjacent side of the frame of the machine and at the inner face of the said side as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the draw ings, and meshing with a gear wheel 13, which is mounted on the cam shaft 14 of the knife folding mechanism, whereby the cam shaft is driven from i the second or variable speed shaft 7. Mounted on the variable speed shaft is a bevel gear 15 which meshes with a bevel gear 16 for driving the second and third fold rolls and the third fold tapes of the knife folding mechanism. The double gear of the variable speed shaft consists of one gear 10 which is of the same diameter as a driving gear 17 suitably fixed to the constant speed driving shaft, and another smaller gear 11. The driving gear 1'7 of the constant speed drive shaft has a wide face and the double gear has gear faces, each approximately onehalf the width of the driving gear 17, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. On one end of the variable speed shaft 7 is pivotally mounted a shiftable member 18 consisting substantially of a quadrant and carrying two spaced gears 19 and 20, one of which meshes with the larger gear 10 of the double gear and the other with the smaller gear 11 of the said double gear. The spaced gears 19 and 20 are located at opposite sides of a portion of the gear face of the driving gear 17 and are in permanent mesh with the gears 10 and 11 of the double gear of the variable speed shaft 7 and are adapted through the shifting of the quadrant 18 to connect either of the gears of the double gear with the main driving gear 17.

When the quadrant is in its lower position of adjustment the equal gears, the gear 10- and thedriving gear 17, are connected, causing the variable speed shaft 7 to run at the samespeed as the driving shaft 1 and when the said shiftable member or quadrant 18 in its upper position, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the unequal gears, the smaller gear 11 of the double gear and the main driving gear 17 are connected, thereby imparting to the second or variable speed shaft 7 a higher speed than the driving shaft 1.

This increase in speed of the variable speed shaft 7 is exactly the same increase that is given to the feeder disk of the multiple speed feeder of the said patent by means of the quadrant assembly of the said patent. Consequently, as the reduction from the second variable speed shaft to the cam shaft 14 is the same as the reduction from the main constant feed driving shaft to a feeder driving gear 21, the two speeds of the feeder driving disk of the said patent will exactly coincide with the two speeds imparted to the cam shaft 14 through the folder quadrant gear assembly and therefore the knives and other parts of the second and third folding mechanism of the paper folding machine will be operating at the same speed as the feeder disk of the said patent when both quadrants are down for slow speed and when both quadrants are up for high speed.

The increased speed when imparted through the bevel gear 15 on the variable speed shaft 7 to the second and third fold mechanisms will automatically be such as to preserve the relation of their roll speeds and the timed relation of their reciprocating parts.

The pivotally mounted quadrant 18 is provided at the end remote from the shaft 7 with a laterally deflected terminal portion ,22 having an arcuate slot 23 through which projects a fixed stud 24 mounted on the adjacent side of the frame of the paper folding machine and forming a stop for thequadrant 18 which is also provided at the ends of the arcuate slot 23 with adjusting screws 25 threaded into the quadrant 18 and projecting at their inner ends into the arcuate slot 23 at the ends thereof and adapted to abut against the stud 24 for limiting the movement of the quadrant 18.

The adjusting screws which are provided with lock nuts 26 are adapted to provide for a fine adjustment of the movement of the shiftable pivotally mounted quadrant 18 so that the teeth of the spaced gears 19 and 20 will properly mesh with the teeth of the driving gear 17. The stud 24 which may be threaded into the adjacent side of the frame of the paper folding machine as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, may, of course, be of any other desired construction and is provided at its outer end with a lock nut 27 for clamping the pivotally mounted quadrant in its 5;-

raised and lowered positions and also at an intermediate point with both of the spaced gears 19 and 20 out of mesh with the driving gear for rendering the knife folding mechanisms inoperative when it is desired to use only the parallel or buckle folding mechanism. A washer 28 is interposed between the lock nut and the quadrant 18 and a collar 29 is mounted on the stud or formed integral therewith to provide a bearing face or surface for the quadrant to enable the latter to be clamped solidly in its up, down or intermediate position of adjustment.

The driving shaft 1 carries a pinion 30 located adjacent the driving gear 17 and meshing with the feeder driving gear 21. gear is mounted on a stud shaft 31 and has connected to it a sprocket wheel 32 designed to be connected with the feeder of the said patent by a sprocket chain.

The feeder driving pan- The quadrant gear assembly is illustrated as one-form of gearing for connecting the second variable speed shaft with the main driving shaftfor driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds without increasing the speed of the buckle folding mechanism and also for disconnecting the knife folding mechanism from the main driving shaft to permit the buckle folding mechanism to be operated independently of the knife folding mechanism. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to this type of gear assembly, but that various arrangements of gears may be provided for accomplish ing these results.

What is claimed is: 1. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms, a primary constant speed drive shaft comiected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism, and means connecting the said shafts for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder, while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed.

2. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms, 'a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a sec-' ond variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism, means connecting the said shafts for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder, while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speedand means for also disconnecting the second'shaft and the knife folding mechanism from the constant speed drive shaft to permit independent operation of the buckle folding mechanism.

3. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, and adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed.

' 4. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms, a pri-' mary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed and means for also disconnecting the second variable speed shaft and the knife folding mechanism from the constant speed drive shaft to permit independent operation of thebuckle folding mechanism.

- In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanism, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the bucklefolding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, and ad-. justable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism'at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to'the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed, said gearing including a driving gear on the constant speed driving shaft, a multiple gear on the variable speed shaft having gears of different diameters, and shiftable gears in constant mesh with the multiple gear and movable into and out of mesh with the driving gear to vary the speed of the variable speed shaft.

6. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanism, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed, said gearing including a driving gear'on the constant speed shaft having a relatively wide gear face, a double gear on the vari able speed shaft having gears of different diameters, and shiftable gears in permanent mesh with the double gear and movable into and out of' mesh with the driving gear to vary the speed of the variable speed shaft.

'7. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanism, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relationto-the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed, said gearing including a double gear on the variable speed shaft having gears of different diameters, a driving gear on the constant speed shaft, and shiftable gears located at opposite sides of a portion of the face of the driving gear, said shiftable gears being in permanent mesh with the double gear and movable to connect either of the gears of the double gear with the driving gear to vary the speed of the variable speed shaft.

8; In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanism, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the" same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed, said gearing including a double gear on the variable speed shaft having gears of different'diameters, a driving gear on the constant speed shaft, shiftable gears located at opposite sides of a portion of the face of the driving gear,

said shiftable gears being in permanent mesh with the double gear and movable to connect either of the gears of the double gear with the driving gear to vary the speed of the variable. speed shaft, and means for holding the shiftable gears out of mesh with the driving gear.

9. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanism, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed, said gearing including a wide faced driving gear on the constant speed driving shaft, a double gear on the variable speed shaft composed of two gears of different diameters, each having a face of approximately one-half the width of the face of the driving gear, spaced shiftable gears in permanent mesh with the gearsof the double gear, and means for moving the spaced gears into and out of mesh with the driving gear to connect the latter with either of the gears of the double gear.

10. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanism, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed, said gearing including a driving gear on the constant speed driving shaft, a double gear onthe variable speed shaft having gears of different diameters, a shiftable member pivotally mounted on the variable speed shaft, and spaced gears carried by the shiftable member and permanently meshed with the gears of the double gear and arranged to be carried into and out of mesh with the driving gear to connect the latter with either of the gears of the double gear.

11. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanism, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed-relation to the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed, said gearing including a wide faced driving gear on the constant speed shaft, a double gear on the variable speed shaft composedof two gears of different diameters, each having a face of approximately one-half the width of the face of the driving gear, a shiftable member pivotally mounted on the variable speed shaft, and spaced gears mounted on the shiftable member and permanently meshed with the gears of the double gear and located at opposite sides of a portion of the face of the driving gear, whereby the shifting of the said member is adapted to carry one of the shiftable gears into mesh with the driving gear, and the other shiftable gear out of mesh to enable the driving gear to be connected with either of the gears of the double gear.

12. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanism, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and operating the same at a constant uniform speed, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism and operating the same, adjustable gearing for driving the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder while the buckle folding mechanism is maintained at a constant speed, said gearing including a wide faced driving gear on the constant speed shaft, a double gear on the variable speed shaft composed of two gears of different diameters, each having a face of approximately one-half the width of the face of the driving gear, a shiftable member pivotally mounted on the variable speed shaft, spaced gears mounted on the shiftable member and permanently meshed with the gears of the double gear and located at opposite sides of a portion of the face of the driving gear, whereby the shifting of the said member is adapted to carry one of the shiftable gears into mesh with the driving gear, and the other shiftable gear out of mesh to enable the driving gear to be connected with either of the gears of the double gear, and means for securing the shiftable member for holding either of the shiftable gears in mesh with the driving gear or both of the shiftable gears out of mesh with the driving gear.

13. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms and including second fold feed tapes, a primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism and also to the second fold feed tapes, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism, and means for connecting the variable speed shaft with the driving shaft for operating the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder and for disconnecting the variable speed shaft and the knife folding mechanism from the drive shaft to permit the buckle folding mechanism and the second fold feed tapes to be operated independently of the knife folding mechanism.

14. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and a register combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms, a primary constant speed drive shaft, means for connecting the drive shaft with the buckle folding mechanism and with the multiple speed feeder and with the register, a second variablespeed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism, means for connecting the variable speed shaft with the driving shaft for operating the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder and means for disconnecting the variable speed shaft and folding mechanisms from the drive shaft to permit the buckle folding mechanism to be operated independently of the knife folding mechanism.

15. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and a register combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms including second fold feed tapes, a primary constant speed drive shaft, means for connecting the drive shaft with the buckle folding mechanism and with the second fold tapes and with the multiple speed feeder and with the register, a second variable speed shaft connected with the knife folding mechanism, means for connecting the variable speed shaft with the drive shaft for operating the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the mul tiple speed feeder and means for disconnecting the variable speed shaft and knife folding mechanism from the drive shaft to permit buckle folding mechanism and the second fold feed tapes to be operated independently of the knife folding mechanism.

16. In a paper folding machine designed for operation with a multiple speed feeder and combining buckle and knife folding mechanisms, a

primary constant speed drive shaft connected with the buckle folding mechanism, a second variable speed shaft, bevel gears for connecting the variable speed shaft with a portion of the knife folding mechanism, spur gearing for connecting the said variable speed shaft with the cam shaft of the knife folding mechanism, means for connecting the variable speed shaft with the drive shaft for operating the knife folding mechanism at a plurality of speeds in timed relation to the multiple speed feeder and means for disconnecting the variable speed shaft and the knife folding mechanism from the drive shaft to permit the buckle folding mechanism to be operated independently of the knife folding mechanism.

STEWART L. SHARPLESS. 

